The association between physical activity and physical fitness with cardiovascular risk factors

Author

Yow, Clifford Jia Jun

Date of Issue

2017

School

National Institute of Education

Abstract

Background: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) has been on the rise but there has been limited information on the relationship between physical fitness (PF) and physical activity (PA) with CVD risk factors and postprandial lipaema (PPL) responses.
Purpose: This study investigated (1) the association between PA and PF with CVD risk factors and (2) whether PA or PF has a greater effect on PPL.
Methods: Eight young, healthy, sedentary adult males performed a walking maximal exercise test on a threadmill using a ramp protocol and filled up a Global Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPAQ) to establish their PF and PA respectively. In another visit, they had their blood samples taken after eating a standardized dinner followed by an over-night fast. They then consumed a test meal (1.21g fat, 0.62g carbohydrate, 0.29g protein and 14.5 kcal/kg of body mass). Further blood samples were taken hourly for 5 hours postprandially. Blood samples were analyzed for fasting glucose concentration and postprandial triglyceride (PPTG) responses.
Results: No significant correlation was found between PF and PA with CVD risk factors. Peak PPTG showed significant strong negative correlation with PA (r = -0.95, p = 0.05). Total PPTG (r = -0.94) and Incremental PPTG (r = -0.92) showed signs of significance (p < 0.1).
Conclusion: These finding suggest that neither PA nor PF was a stronger predictor of CVD. However, PA seems to have an effect on PPTG. Nevertheless, one should still seek to increase PA regardless of PF due to the health benefits it brings.